This is an 'Open Cluster' of stars. Very close to the Earth at only 444 light years away.

This cluster is in the constellation of Taurus, and easily visible with the naked eye. They are mostly blue in colour, which indicates they are relatively young. Blue stars live like Rock Stars, and die young just the same..... They are considered 'middle-aged' B-type stars, and were formed only 100 million years ago (approx!) The dust you see around the stars is real - it is the dust which Astronomers think is unrelated to this Cluster. The light we see illuminating the dust clouds is coming from the stars themselves.

Astronomers think this cluster will only last for another 250 million years, when the stars will begin drifting away - if they survive that long!

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